Mitt Romney meets U.K. leaders ahead of London fundraiser

Britain's Labour leader Ed Miliband greets Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney at his office at the House of Commons in London, July 26, 2012. / AP

(CBS/AP) LONDON - With the Olympics Games as a backdrop, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney met Thursday with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, beginning a day of meetings with Britain's most powerful people. The likely GOP nominee sought to send a message that he recognizes the close bonds between the U.S. and its top ally — and to project an image of leadership.

"We have a very special relationship between the United States and Great Britain," Romney told NBC News in an interview in London on the first day of a weeklong overseas trip that will also take him to Israel and Poland. "It goes back to our very beginnings — cultural and historical."

Romney's first official appearance during a campaign swing intended to highlight longtime U.S. alliances was with Blair. He was slated to meet later in the day with current Prime Minister David Cameron.

CBS News correspondent Jan Crawford reports that, in a news conference earlier Thursday, Cameron called for stronger trade links between the U.S. and Europe, so that will likely be a theme discussed by the two men Thursday afternoon.

Romney hopes trip abroad adds foreign policy cred
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Blair hosted Romney at his private office few blocks off Hyde Park. The former Labour Party prime minister now serves as a special envoy to the Middle East for the British government. The two discussed the Olympics and exchanged pleasantries at the beginning of a planned half-hour meeting.

Romney then met with Ed Miliband, the current leader of the Labour Party. Before that session, Miliband invited two reporters from what he called "my side" to ask questions, although Romney declined to take questions from American journalists. Romney again cited the "special relationship" between the two countries and praised Britain for its military commitment in Afghanistan.

Asked for his thoughts on the current financial crisis in Britain - currently suffering its worst double-dip recession in 50 years - and the role of the country's fiscal leaders, Romney would not be drawn.

"While I'm on foreign soil, I'm very careful not to be critical of my own government's policies," said the presumptive Republican nominee. "I would be even more remiss if I were to be critical of any other government's policies. I will instead look forward to an exchange of ideas."

CBS News political analyst John Dickerson told "CBS This Morning" co-host Charlie Rose that Romney's discretion is part of his campaign's well-calculated effort to come across as presidential.

Romney also was slated to meet with Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, Britain's top financial official.

Accompanying Romney to some of his meetings are former Missouri Sen. Jim Talent, an adviser, and Kerry Healey, who served as lieutenant governor when Romney was governor of Massachusetts.

Romney, whose decades in private business gave him ample exposure to international affairs, is a former one-term governor untested on the world's political stage. He hopes to convince voters back home that he is no novice on foreign affairs and that they should elect him as president in a complex, dangerous world.

Romney also will spend part of his time in London raising money.

He's attending a fundraising dinner in London's swish Mayfair neighborhood on Thursday evening. According to The Guardian, tickets were selling for between $50,000 and $75,000 each. The dinner was to be hosted by Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond, but he pulled out of the event after resigning his post with the bank over the LIBOR rate fixing scandal.

In an article published on Wednesday, The Guardian reported that a group of British lawmakers was urging Barclays' executives in the U.S. to stop making donations to Romney's campaign, and instead focus on repairing the damages done by the LIBOR scandal.

Barclays responded with a statement stressing that, "all political activity undertaken by Barclays' US employees, including personal fundraising for specific candidates, is done so in a personal capacity, and not on behalf of Barclays."

"Barclays is politically non-partisan, makes no political donations nor seeks to influence the political activities of its employees."

According to the newspaper, Patrick Durkin, head of Barclays investment banking branch, has raised $1 million for the Romney campaign.

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[shipdog7]

When it came to what would you do to curb all the killing going on in his country, Romney's answer was quite simple. Do nothing. The Constitution says we can all bare arms. All 300 million of them quoted Piers. And without saying it, it also allows us to kill each other with those weapons. When told Great Britain had about fifty killed by guns last year and Japan zero, he went off on keeping a close eye on creepy, deranged people in the country. When told the "Batman" killer had no signs to look for in a deranged person , Romney again quoted baring arms is the answer. Its our constitutional right. Having secret service agents guarding you is the answer. Somebody else's problem. Not his.

[CaptainSmollett]

It never ceases to amaze me how many hard-left liberals are commenting here in the middle of a work-day. Taking some time off from counting our Foodstamps, are we? I guess when you have a nanny state providing for your needs, who needs to be a responsible and self-reliant contributor to society.

Come to think of it, I guess that would explain why the Far Left doesn't seem to care about Obama's out-of-control spending, run-away national debt, increasing poverty, massive long-term unemployment, demise of small businesses, and continuing economic stagnation. You are going to vote for Obama because you don't want to lose all your free stuff that other more responsible members of society must pay for. But since you are self-pitying "victims" of an unfair society, I guess you can sleep well at night, huh? Unfortunately, that mind-set will result in our ultimate demise, under Obama's lead. His re-election will be a catastrophe for this once-great nation. Here we come Greece and Spain....make room for the U.S.

[shipdog7]

I don't sleep well at night because of Romney's beliefs on gun control
When it came to what would you do to curb all the killing going on in his country, Romney's answer was quite simple. Do nothing. The Constitution says we can all bare arms. All 300 million of them quoted Piers. And without saying it, it also allows us to kill each other with those weapons. When told Great Britain had about fifty killed by guns last year and Japan zero, he went off on keeping a close eye on creepy, deranged people in the country. When told the "Batman" killer had no signs to look for in a deranged person , Romney again quoted baring arms is the answer. Its our constitutional right. Having secret service agents guarding you is the answer. Somebody else's problem. Not his.

[thetruthwillout]

I didn't know the Brits could vote in our elections. Interesting.

[nirak2-2009]

Wow, now Romney is milking the Brits.
Not only is Romney a Liar of the first degree, he is unethical and a Slimeball.

[hypnotoad72]

Why, is he planning to run for Prime Minister?

[Larnan5]

Romney is a know nothing candidate.Does not have any experience in foreign policy. He is arrogant.Hilary has been a great seceretary of state,as most republicans know. Romney is a captive of the ultra right wing religious fanatics, a blooming neo-con (Cheney's his guru) and a flip flopper all his political life BUT.....he is entitled to become the next president. It's his turn Just ask him.. Don't you ordinary people understand. Ask anyone..

[stupa5]

by dwolfman1 July 26, 2012 11:31 AM EDT
Your the fool , we have a fool and a thug now .You think Romney COULD POSSIBLY BE ANY WORST .


A cult secrative leader like the MITT is what America need
Vote him and you get 5 wives!

[Jaylah54200]

Why is Mittens meeting with so many Labour party leaders? Doesn't he know they're the UK equivalent of Democrats?


On a related note, it was reported that Romney's plane had a rather tricky landing when it arrived in England. Seems Seamus II was tied to the roof of the plane and had diarrhea during the flight, which had covered the plane's windshield, reducing visibility and making it difficult for the pilot to land.

[taylorsucram]

In Illinois, nearly 200 workers at the Sensata plant linked to Romney's former company, Bain Capital, are about to lose their jobs. And to add insult to injury, they will have to train their Chinese replacements first.

Ha-ha-ha-ha! How's that working out for you America?
Obama/Biden 2012

[novotesobozo]

Key word former

[newz4me]

Romney declined to take questions from American journalists.

He's even afraid of "us" over there.